A huge wilderness area, located just 200 kilometres west of Dar es Salaam, the unbelievably vast Selous Game Reserve may be lesser known, but its area equates to four times the size of the Serengeti, making it Africa’s largest, and as an ecosystem it enjoys little human intervention, which means it is a truly authentic safari experience. One of Tanzania’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Selous enjoys a varied topography of rocky outcrops, savannah woodlands and open grasslands, with the Rufiji River morphing into a network of lakes and streams backed by riverine vegetation, attracting plains game to congregate and drink from its waters when the heat of the afternoon starts to rise.

Spanning 90,000 square kilometres, Selous was an amalgamation of four smaller reserves, which came together in 1922. 

Selous is home to an incredible diversity of flora, fauna and birdlife. Of particular note, it is said that approximately 1,300 of 4,000 wild dogs remaining in the world are found in the unspoilt plains of Selous. Crocodile and pods of hippo can be regularly seen as they submerge in the glistening lagoons, whilst 350 bird species include the rainbow-coloured and exotic. Some 60,000 elephants and 108,000 buffalo are found in the reserve, as well as an abundance of hartebeest, zebra, baboon, kudu, wildebeest, sable antelope, eland, reedbuck, bushbuck and giraffe. Primates such as blue samango monkeys and colobus monkeys are also found.

Activities within Selous are a combination of walking safaris, boat trips which are great for birding and spotting crocodile and hippos, and fly-camping, which are mobile camps set up in remote areas over several days, and can be arranged from the lovely Siwandu Camp .

 The latter is a classic luxury tented camp set on the shores of Lake Nserakera, a wild, open camp that blends with its surroundings. Sand Rivers Selous is an intimate and upmarket retreat and great expedition base with activities such as motorboat trips up the towering Steigler's Gorge.

 SELOUS GAME RESERVE IS A GREAT OPTION FOR THOSE HONEYMOONERS WISHING TO EXPLORE A BIT MORE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK THAN THE BUSIER PARKS OF THE NORTH, AND PERFECT FOR A FAMILY SAFARI THAT OFFERS A BIT MORE PRIVACY AS WELL AS BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY.